Recipe Weekend: Irish Cookbook by JP McMahon

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Paidon Press, via EdelweissPlus, free of charge, for review purposes on this blog. No compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it, all opinions are my own


And rounding out Irish week, is an amazing cookbook!

the irish cookbook cover


Synopsis:

The Irish Cookbook showcases the true depth of Irish cuisine, its ingredients, and its fascinating history, as never before

Ireland's remarkably rich food heritage dates back millenia and, in The Irish Cookbook, acclaimed chef Jp McMahon captures its unique culinary origins and varied influences. Irish food is the summation of what the land and sea gives; the book's 480 home-cooking recipes celebrate the range and quality of Ireland's bounty, from oysters and seaweed on its west coast to beef and lamb from its lush green pastures, to produce and forage from throughout the island. Presenting best-loved traditional dishes together with many lesser-known gems, this book vividly evokes the warmth, hospitality, and culinary spirit of the Emerald Isle.


Review:

What is different with this cookbook is that a good portion of it is given to the HISTORY of Ireland, and how each culture that came brought their food with them, and how those foods assimilated into what we now think of as Irish cooking. It is very odd to think that as titular as the potato is to Ireland, it really is NEW to the country, having come from the Americans! And speaking of, soda bread, as we know it, is only about 250 years old in Ireland! So what we think of as Irish cooking, really is more of an Irish TAKE on food brought to their shores!

Once you get past those revelations, then the discussion is about what foods are NATIVE to the country, and have been eaten since the beginning, before the Romans found the island. Obviously being an island, seafood is a natural, as is fresh water fish, from lakes and streams. From there it is an interesting discussion on how there is very little native hooved animals- most were introduced by those who came to Ireland.

Jp then takes the reader on a journey through the country, with the different foods and area cuisine being represented. Some will seem quite familiar to those with Irish ancestry, and even Jp's take on them with different herbs will make you smile at the thought of adding something new to your recipe (in fact I adore that he calls recipes 'guidelines'- there for the basics, but up to the cook to alter and change as they see fit)! From breakfast through dessert, all aspects of Irish cooking is presented, and it may just make you rethink what you THOUGHT you knew about Irish cooking!

A great cookbook, this book is perfect for keeping AND giving, as it is sure to become a classic, handed down from generation to generation! Plus it is perfect for foodies AND history lovers alike!

Recipe:

This recipe is the SAME as my great aunts, and as she was from the Irish side, one has to wonder if it was a recipe from Ireland! It's yummy YEAR round, with any type of fruit!

friut crumble recipe



About the Author:

Jp McMahon is a chef, restaurateur, and author. He is culinary director of the EatGalway Restaurant Group and runs the Aniar Boutique Cookery School. Founding chair and director of the Galway Food Festival, Jp is an ambassador for Irish food. He organises an annual international chef symposium entitled 'Food on the Edge' in Galway and writes a weekly column for the Irish Times



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